Committee on Purple Line to hold first meeting

Chevy Chase group will focus on mitigation measures

Lessening the Purple Line light rail's impact on the Town of Chevy Chase will be the focus of discussions at an inaugural town committee meeting later this week.

The Purple Line Mitigation Advisory Group will meet at the town hall at 4301 Willow Lane at 7 p.m. Thursday to receive a presentation from Maryland Transit Administration. The MTA's presentation will focus on its decision to locate the Purple Line south of the Capital Crescent Trail, which runs along a portion of the town's northern border. Residents have expressed concern that locating the project south of the trail will increase its negative noise, visibility and safety impacts, although the MTA maintains that various mitigation measures will be effective in reducing the project's overall impact.

The MAG, made up of nine town residents, was formed late last year by the town to deal with the MTA on various mitigation issues, ensure the best mitigation measures possible, and relay the town's opinions on the project to the state. At Thursday's meeting, the MAG will also discuss communicating with state government about the Purple Line, and take questions and comments from other residents.

The MAG chairwoman is Mary Anne Hoffman, a former director of public affairs for the Virginia Department of Transportation and also for Amtrak. Also part of the committee is Rich Brancato, director of transportation programs for the Coalition of Northeastern Governors; David Salzman, a physicist; and John Burnes, an attorney specializing in energy, conservation and environmental compliance. The Town Council's MAG liaison is Pat Burda.

The council wanted a variety of people included on the committee, Burda said, including experts in relevant fields; supporters and opponents of the project as a whole; and people who live along and use the trail.

"We're very adamant that we want to work with the state to get the best mitigation possible," Burda said.

The Purple Line is a 16-mile, $1.67 billion light rail project that would connect downtown Bethesda to New Carrollton via Silver Spring. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) approved the light rail option for the project last August, although the town and others have argued the project will fail to relieve traffic woes while harming the trail at great public expense. The town has not abandoned its general opposition to light rail and may still file suit to have the state study the project again.